Experimental Light Modifier

If like me you have only a small permanent space for studio work, and budget (aka cheap second hand tat) lighting you will know that it can be difficult to control light.  I have only a soft box, and a few brollies to use.  Rather than get all 'woe is me' about it, I occasionally have a go at DIY solutions.  You may have seem my Pot Noodle snoots.  Today I decided to have a go at some micro soft boxes with the view to using them to light a background whilst reducing the spill onto the subject.  The results aren't brilliant, but I had a go.  This is how I did it.

1) Gather the bits

We have a cheap storage basket, some reflective foil, the sort you shove behind radiators to safe energy, a white sheet, some clothes pegs, duct tape, and electrical insulation tape. The tools I used were scissors, a Dremmel, and a sharpie.








2)

 First I used my light as a template, then cut out a hole with the Dremmel (wear goggles, and cut the hole outside kids)

3)
Use the basket to mark out the fold on the back of the foily stuff.  Cut off the corners

4)

Check the foil fits properlyish.  You can score, or fold this stuff which helps.







5)

Use the Duct tape to join the edges of the foil, then shove it in the basket.







6)

  Tape the excess foil over the side of the basket to hold it in place








7)

Carefully cut out a hole for the light to poke through.  Leave some excess to fold over and tape to the back.  This helps hold the whole contraction to the light without having to use tape on that too.






8) 

This is what it looks like in situ.








9)

I added some of the cotton sheet to soften the light a little

Half way Through, nearly, well sort of…

Ok tomorrow will see me completely over the midway part of the project in terms of time, but there is still the matter of the missing pictures, namely 54, and 74.  I feel fairly sure that I did not miss them, and they are languishing somewhere on one of the various computers I use.  I like to think they have bunked off, and are having a furtive ciggie whilst sneaking a look around the edge of a long forgotten spreadsheet to look out for pesky users, i.e. me.  If I cannot track them down I will have to retake a couple more photos to fill the gaps.  So you pesky pictures, if you don’t want to be replaced then you had better show up hadn’t you.

‘What about the other missing images’ ,I optimistically hope to hear the audience cry.  Well they are not missing, but are in a state of self imposed censorship.  There is nothing illegal, or morally reprehensible about them, but they are of a nature that I would prefer them to remain private until such time that I am either rich enough not to worry about upsetting my employers, or I am just plain brave enough to cock a snoot to society and say, sometimes I look like this OK?

So here’s to another 182 days of me.  Hurrah!

Reflections on the 365 project so far

When I started this 365 project I was sceptical of these merits of this type of undertaking.  Much criticised for stifling creativity, I do believe I have picked up, or perhaps strengthened some of the photography skills and knowledge I have picked up a long the way.  Although I never really planned it to be a self portrait project, it quickly took on that mantel.  I had planned recently to take a month off from my face to photograph a month of non-me people.  Somewhere in my subconscious my ego has prevented me from doing.  "No, it's mine, all MINE!" I can almost hear my Id screaming.  So the self portraits continue. 

One thing shocked me recently, and that was that I was missing two days, numbers 54 and 74 for those who might be counting.  Some entries I have made private as they are not conducive to either maintaining a dignified social standing (I fell into this dress honest constable), or might have reflected badly if my employers saw them in a public forum (you mean there's something wrong being naked in chains with an apple wedged in my mouth?), however the missing photos are genuinely missing.  I thought I'd been so careful with my numbering too.  For the record today should be day 135, so I need to do one tonight.

Another thing I have become aware of is balance.  I go though cycles of being straight, and boring only to swing to wacky, and way-out.  Sometimes I try to create a narrative, other times my image may be, just because.  It has helped to adopt sub-project, for example the popular Face down Tuesday, or my Vinyl Countdown, which spoof, or rather pays homage to albums in my record collection.

How successful I am being in creating entertaining images is difficult to judge. I post most of the pictures in Flickr, which gives me statistics on how many times my images are viewed, however there is seldom feedback from those viewers with the exception of the very occasional Fave.  Unfortunately I think to receive adulation one has to actively seek adulation, and of course have some talent to back it up.
I'm over a third of the way through, and although I do enjoy it, I will be glad when this project is finished.  I will come out of the other end with a great deal more experience with lighting, composing, retouching, etc which I will turn to good use in other areas of my photography.  In the mean time I will continue to paint my face, play with props, take my tripod with me everywhere, and generally try to have fun.

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38 of 365

38 of 365
Originally uploaded by Rob Johnstone

Yes I do sometimes have weird ideas spawned from the most innocent of events, this one, or rather the original one (see flickr) was triggered unwrapping a wiifit board I had ordered for my wife. It must have been the tactile feel of the bubble wrap, and the slick, dark shininess of the black plastic wrap that fired up my imagination!

34 of 365 Ofspect

34 of 365 Ofspect
Originally uploaded by Rob Johnstone

Our school recently had an ofsted inspection. This led me to a train of thought about who inspects the inspectors. So OfSpect was born. This is a bit of a cheat, as the original image is two inspectors. However I don't think the world is ready for a composite of me in drag at the moment so just the drab me for the time being ;)

28 of 365 I'd forget my head if it....

28 of 365 I'd forget my head if it....
Originally uploaded by Rob Johnstone

A nice idea poorly executed. Still it was fun to do. No light bulbs were harmed during the making of this image

26 of 365 Wascally Wabbit

26 of 365 Wascally Wabbit
Originally uploaded by Rob Johnstone

Bad bunny. Inspired by the pixar short. I happened to be wearing my tux after leaving a party early. I grabbed the opportunity to snap a little scene. Hop(e) ya like it!

23 of 365 Life thru a lens

23 of 365 Life thru a lens
Originally uploaded by Rob Johnstone

This is a composite, however only to get both the inverted me, and the frame of the little lens nearly in focus.

This sweet little piece of glass came from dead projector. Have you ever dismantled one of those? Loads of great little trinkets in them.

22 of 365 If You Want To Get Ahead....

22 of 365 If You Want To Get Ahead....
Originally uploaded by Rob Johnstone

The 365 project has it's ups and downs. i often get behind in the project. My ideas dry up, my energy saps, sometimes I just can't be arsed. So not a photo a day, but more like 365 portraits sort of squeezed into a year, mostly trying to do one a day.

This one was a rushed one, well aren't they all. If I had taken more care I would have arranged the hats better. I can't believe we have so many hats to be honest. I am particularly taken with the little tequila hat.

St. Albans Trapeze

I was recently invited to photograph the trapeze/acrobalance group that my wife belongs to.  I have done this before, which I have previously blogged.  I have deliberately not read my previous posts, as I would like to see if I write similarly about the experience, and if I actually learnt anything from the previous time.

The group is now run by a different leader, Kate who welcomed me to the first session of the evening.  The premise initially was to get shots for their website to help promote, and then to get shots for people to use for prints, social network profiles, that sort of thing.  Now regular followers of this blog will know I am not a professional photographer, however I do take like to achieve results I can take pride in, whilst giving those who are kind enough to pose a set of images that make them smile. 

I unpacked my eclectic array of gear, and set about getting some shots of the class in progress.  We decided to try and get some shots of trapeze moves that started at the basics.    I could not dream of doing even the moves that they assure me were the simplest to achieve.  My setup was my trusty Canon 60d and 17-55mm (ish) f2.8 combo with a 480ex flash on camera.  I try using a lastolite eazybox, but neither me nor my camera really gets the exposure right doing this dynamic sort of shooting.  As a consequence these shots had massive shadows, and were a little harsh in places.  More practice needed I think.  We shot for about an hour, before the members of the second session began to arrive.  This session was to be more structured so as to be able to improve and control the lighting.

I set up a background behind a low trapeze.  This was the single biggest mistake of the evening, and I regret doing it.  The cloth was far too small for the performer to keep within, and so I have ended up with numerous shots of people bisected by the backdrop.  Some I have been able to salvage in Photoshop, but this is time consuming, and to my self critical eye not the most appealing way to present the work of the performers.  If I get the opportunity in future I will not use a drop at all, and keep the environment as the background, despite it's busyness.

Having said that we did have a lot of fun as people had brought stuff to dress up in.  This added a dimension to the shoot, and the images which was a lot different to last time.

I had a fantastic time with the group, and we did make some great images together. If I was asked to go back again, I would in a heartbeat.

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Oh No! Not another 365 project?

Oh No! Not another 365 project?, a set on Flickr.

So against all my previous reservations I have decided to do one of those blasted 365 projects. Now let's just say to begin with. I haven't stuck with it. There have been a occasions even at this early stage where I have missed a day. This is usually because, well to be honest and truthful, I've been too tired to fight my laziness, and inertia to do one. I have, in my defence caught up the next day. Why am I doing it? Because it's there! Also I tend to need a goal to aim for, or a framework to adhere to. I want to do more photography. I see this is a way of feeding that hunger. Whilst I have not set a formal theme for this project, I do seem to have fallen into doing selfies. This is a rather dubious term that I always find hints at intimate self indulgence. Well perhaps self portraits fit that description. As with a lot of creative endeavors some days are easier than others for coming up with ideas, and then executing them. Some start with just a germ of an idea that may or not work such as the tequila bottle one, and others turn out pretty much as envisiaged, like the Alice Cooper homage. Some are obviously just straight forward, some reflect a mood for the day. I hope to keep it up for the whole year, although I'm sure people will get fed up with seeing my fizzog by about 31st Jan, I know I will! Here's to a year of exploring what I can do with my image. I welcome comments, critiques, ideas etc here and on my flickr stream. Don't worry, it'll soon be Christmas!